Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-12-09
a NATTER THAT WILL "KEEP.' -

a NATTER THAT WILL KEEP
Allusion has already been made in these
columns, to the very able article from the
pen Of Mr.. NJ. Halstead, Of the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette. which has Just ap-
peared In the Forum. under the striking
heading Nulhtiers Of the Constitu-
tion.' In it Mr.. Halstead takes the ground
that the present manner of conducting
elections in the south is simply. . nullifica-
ton of the constitution. and that the presi-
dent and house Of representatives are the
result Of such notification. giving plain
and abundant fures to sustain his position.
Of these figures. Mr.. Halstsad says:
There is broad story told by the statis-
tics. 1t is that our colored fellow citizens
Of the south have not been dealt with fairly;
that the constitution of the United States.
with respect to them, has been nulliied;
that the democratic party has the usufruct
Of the nullifcation. and that the presidency
and the house Of representatives, rs held,
are the visible testimony of the handiwOrk
Of the nullifiers. The democratic majority
in the house is exclusively composed Of the
members added to southern representation
by the enumeration based upon the enfran-
chisement Of the emancipation slaves. and
We need go no further than the census tables
and the election returns. to point out the
districts In which the crimes rewarded with
high places In the government were COM
mitted. What is the remedy? Read the
constitution. The lIth amendment Is per-
fectly clear in defining the peaceable re-
course of the people who have been
wronged. II is foreign to the purpose Of
this article to discuss the processes by which
the great constitutional notification, in
volving almost a national revolution. that
is manifest. has been wrought; but one
must not omit the improvement OF the
occasion so far as to say, that the question
whether we shall have q government Of
nuilihers is that upon which We, the people
of the United States who ordained and e.
tablished the constitution. shall enter judg-
ment in the election OF lsss.
In this Mr.. Halstead has struck one key
note for lsss, and this is a matter that can
be kept constantly before the people from
this time forward and one which at the
same time will keep" through the entire
of 1855. Fortunately for the
couse of an honest and free ballot the items
Of Mr.. Halstead's arraignment are not left
TO stand or fall upon his assertions. or the
facts and figures he has presented. for the
defense has volunteered its own evidence to
the truth Of the charges. Two classes Of
democrats in Louisiana have been fighting
each other and when roguss or demo-
rats fall out with each other
We are apt to get the truth from one or the
'ther Of the coutending parties. Govsrnsr
McEnery (democrat) was . candidate
Tor reelection and General r. T.
Nichols tex-cOnfederate and democrat, as
! matter Of course) has been making an ef-
'ort to supplant and beat him. Not long
'ince Governor McEnery made Q speech in
public. in which the New Orleans Picayune.
if not actually the foremost democratic
PAPER in the south, declares that the gov
'rnor took the position that the mainten-
Ince of the supremacy Of the white race in
louisiana is impossible unless the colored
itizens Of the state are denied the enjoy
aent of the civil rights guaranteed to them
y the constitution OF the United States
nd the constitution Of the state. The |
'icayune adds that both the governor and |
enator Eustis assumed this position boldly |
nd the editor concludes that they both |
intend to stand by it steadfastly," and he |
hen denouncss these distinguished south
rn gentlemen IS follows:
Probably never before In all the history |
the party did two democrats Of like |
rominenee ever betray an equal degree Of |
Mingled stupidity and desperation. There
no Disgusting the stark nakedness of the /
oyernor's statements. He went into par
calars and told precisely how the thing
as done. And that Is not the worst Of It.
he country Is given TO understand that
hat has been done must be done again;
lat We cannot safely permit the c0iOred
tizens of this state to enjoy their political
g'Its. The argument WAS distinctly and
Splicitly made against General NichOlls's
that he could not be relied upon
} secure the SUPP iemacy of the white race
7 suppressing the suffrage of the cOlored
aople, in other words, they cOntended
Iat General Nichols would not be . safe
,yernor because he j. not a halId0zer.
Now who ohall dispute what Mr.. Hal
cad has said? And with the shooting
'wn OF colored Knights Of Labor in Louis
ma, because they demanded increased pay,
e would be glad to know who is putting
e gore on the bloody shirt? Here is good
for use next year. and it will
stored up and kept dry. Il